Highlights

Bimetallic mixed metal oxide developed with NiO and CuO using nitrogen-doped graphene oxide to synthesis nanocomposite.

Morphological analyses showed the hexagonal bifrustum-shaped composite.

The NiO/CuO/N-GO nanocomposite has an excellent antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

In vitro anticancer activity of NiO/CuO/N-GO nanocomposite exhibit the significant reduction of human lung cancer cells.

Abstract

A bimetallic mixed metal oxide developed with nickel oxide and copper oxide (NiO/CuO) and using nitrogen-doped graphene oxide (N-GO) resulted in the synthesis of a NiO/CuO/N-GO nanocomposite. Structural analyses of the NiO/CuO/N-GO nanocomposite, conducted using X-ray diffraction analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, revealed cubic NiO and monoclinic CuO crystalline characteristics. The nanocomposite showed Cu-O and Ni-O vibrations, with peaks observed at 491 cm⁻¹ and 606 cm⁻¹, respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy affirmed Cu, Ni, N, and O presence in the mixed-valence state of the NiO/CuO/N-GO nanocomposite. Morphological analyses, performed with high-resolution transmission electron and scanning electron microscopy, showed the 130 nm nanocomposite was a hexagonal bifrustum-shaped composite. Also, the antibacterial and anticancer potential of the nanocomposite was investigated. Antibacterial characteristics of NiO/CuO/N-GO (50 µg/mL) were shown against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus with inhibition zones of 18.5, 15.25, and 17.5 mm, respectively. The anticancer property of NiO/CuO/N-GO nanocomposite and its effect on cell cytotoxicity were evaluated in normal HEK293 human embryonic cells and A549 human lung cancer cells. Cell viability was observed using acridine orange/ethidium bromide dual staining. Reactive oxygen species generation analysis affirmed the anticancer potential of the NiO/CuO/N-GO composite.